Quilting-machine



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4 D. H. COLES.

QUILTING MAGHINB. U No. 434,250. I Patented Aug. 12,1890.

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D. H. UOLE$. QUILTING MACHINE. No. 434,250. Patented Aug. 12, 1890.

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(No Model.) I 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

D. H. OOLES.

QUILTING MACHINE. No. 434,250. Patented Aug. 12, 1890; am. 7

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID H. OOLES, OF BROOKLYN, NElV YORK.

QUILTING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 434,250, dated August 12, 1890.

Application filed February 28, 1890- Serial No. 342,039. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, DAVID H. CoLEs, acitizen of the United States, residing atBrooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improve- 'ments in Machines for Sewing or Quilting, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to machines for sewing or quilting, and by means of this invention neat and accurate work can be obtained, as set forth in the following specification and claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a section along 00 as, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section along y y, Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a detail view of a resser-plate. Fig. 5 is a sectional View along 2 .2, Fig. 3, of quilting being formed with two cloths. Fig. 6 is a plan view of quilting, the cloth being straightened after sewing, as in Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a sectional view of quilting being formed with one cloth. Fig. 8 is a plan View of quilting, the cloth being left after sewing without straightening, as in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a detail View of arms for the shuttle-carriers. Fig. 10 is a detail view of a modification.

In the drawings, the letter A indicates a frame having guides at for the needle-bars b, reciprocated by the arms 0, mounted on shafts B. The shafts B have arms (1 connected by rods 6 f and bell-crank levers g with eccentrics or pins h. The pins h are shown in the drawings supported by gear-wheels n on the shafts 0. As will be noticed, there are two gangs or sets of needle-bars, the bars of one gang or set alternating with or being 'intermediate to those of the other gang or set, and each set of needle-bars having its drivingarms 0 and shafts B O. The shafts O are not rotated simultaneously, as will be hereinafter explained, so that the two sets of needle-bars are actuated intermittently or at different periods instead of simultaneously. The shafts C have eccentrics a connected by links 3' to arms is. The shaftD carries the arms I, actuatin g the shuttle-carriers m. The arms Zare connected to the arms is, Fig. 9. The shuttlecarriers m with their driving mechanisms are arranged in two sets to correspond in movement to themovements of the two sets of needle-bars. Of course in place of these special needle and shuttle operating devices any suitable operating devices may be employed for this purpose, and if desired the needles and shuttles need not be arranged in differently-timed sets, but all the needles and shuttles could be operated simultaneously.

The quilting material may consist of two cloths H with wadding or batting between them, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, or such quilting material may consist of only one cloth with batting, as shown in Fig. 7. The cloths (if two are used) are fed from suitable rolls E to the pressure-plates vGr and about said pressure-plates, passing between said plates and between the feed-rollers F. At the point where the cloths are doubled about the plates G said cloths meet the batting, which is fed into the machine from a different direction than the cloths. Said batting is fed by the rollers I, carrying a belt or apron J, supporting the batting. The batting being thus free and exposed to view during its feed, said batting can be accurately watched and guided, so that neat work will be obtained.

The plates G have throats or recesses for the passage of the needles, as seen in Figs. 4, 5, and 7, and the needles unite the cloth and batting at the place of meeting by stitches formed at the doubled portions of the cloth, Figs. 5 and 7. After the cloth and batting are united the doubled portions of the cloth may be straightened, Figs. 5 and 6, or said doubled portions may be left without straightening, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8. The stitches formed by one set of needles are indicated in Figs. 6 and 8 by 1, and the stitches of the other needle set by 2. By operating the nee dle sets at different times, as stated, the stitches of one needle set will be formed in advance of the stitches of the other needle set, as seen. in Figs. 6 and 8. The pressureplates G, as indicated in Fig. 4., may be ridged or toothed, so as to spread the cloth and keep it spread, so that no wrinkles will occur in the work.

The gears n of the shafts 0 receive motion from the gears 0. Each of said gears o is actuated by a segmental or mutilated gear on the wheels K, there being one such wheel K with a mutilated gear on each side of the machine. Each segmental gear causes its wheel 0 to rotate during part of the rotation of the wheel K, while allowing said wheel 0 to remain at rest during the remainder of the retation of the wheel K.

Each wheel K has a rim P and a startinggroove M and stopping-groove N for respectively starting and stopping the rotation of the respective wheel 0. Each wheel 0 has two pins 0 0. hen the wheel K, which in Fig. 1 is toward the spectator, turns in the indicated direction, the starting groove M engages one of the pins 0 and starts the rotation of the wheel 6, and the mutilated gear on the wheel K meshing into the wheel 0 will cause said wheel to continue rotating until the gear has passed the wheel 0. The stoppingroove N then engages the pins 0 O and stops the rotation of the wheel 0. After the stopping-groove N has passed the pins 0 0 said pins rest on the rim I, so as to prevent rotation of the wheel 0 until the starting-groove M again comes into playto start said wheel. Each wheel K is arranged to start the respective wheel 0 and axle C at a diiierent time from that when the other wheel K starts its corresponding wheel 0 and axle C, so that the different sets of needles and shuttles are actuated at different times, as already stated. The wheels K are mounted on a shaft L, receivin g motion from any suitable source, such as a belt and pulley. The shaft L carries three sets of cams Q R S. The cams Q op crate the feed. Said cams Q oscillate swinging arms T, which reciprocate the links U and. bell-cranks V. Dogs IN convey motion from the bell-cranks to the gear-wheels X, meshing into gear-wheels on one of the feedrollers F, which rollers are connected to one another by gears. The oscillations of the dog WV thus impart a step-by-step motion to the feed-rollers F. By connecting the links U and bell-cranks V by an adjustable connectionsuch as a pin-and-slot connection-the throw of thebell-crank and the consequent amount of feed can be regulated. A belt Y connects one of the gear-wheels X with one of the rollers I, so as to impart an intermit-' tent or step-by-step feed motion to the belt or apron J in harmony with the intermittent motion of the feed-rollers. The cams R reciprocate the upper pressure-plate G and the cams S the lower pressure-plate. During the sewing operation of the needles the plates G are approached or brought near to one another to clamp the quilting or work, while during the feed of the quilting or work the plates G are separated to allow free passage or feed of the quilting or work. The cams R oscillate swinging arms 0, imparting motion to the rods Z, supporting the under pressure-plate. The cams S oscillate swinging arms 3, Fig. 2, imparting motion to the rods 11, supporting the lower pressure-plate. The cams R S are arranged to alternately separate and appreach the plates G to and from one another. The arms 9" also oscillate the links 2, so as to actuate the tensions. The tensions may be of any suitable construction. By arranging a series of eccentrics on a shaft to and cansins: the links If to oscillate said shaft so as to.

alternately press the eccentrics against springplates 1) and leave a space between the cocentrics and spring-plates, an automatic tension is obtained which at times clamps the thread and at other times leaves the thread free to advance.

In case no lower cloth is used, as in Fig. 7, the lower pressure-plate G can be omitted and its place supplied by a fixed throat-plate q, of any suitable well-known construction. In that case the actuating mechanism of the lower pressure-plate can be omitted and the upper pressure-plate can be made at suitable intervals to clamp the quilting or work against the throat-plate q.

In case the cloth is to be straightened after sewing, as in Figs. 5 and 6, the stitches are made loose enough to allow of such straightenin g. By tightening the stitches sufliciently, straightening of the cloth is prevented, so that the cloth remains as shown in Figs. 7 and S. The tightening of the stitches can be regulated by suitable means-such as by adjusting screws 10, made to act on the spring-plates o.

The drawings show a machine having several needles adapted for quilting; but of course the machine can be made as a sewingmaehinethat is, with but one needle-in which case the machine can be used for sewing such goods, for example, as ruchings.

As noticed in Figs. 5 and 7, the stitches are formed so that the greater part of the thread remains inside the Work or between the cloth and batting, so that the thread is protected and also to a great extent or entirely hidden from view, thus giving a neat appearance to the work whenfinished. If the cloth is straightened, as in Fig. 5, a small part of the thread is exposed to view, Fig. 6; but if the cloth is not straightened, Fig. 7, the thread remains hidden,Fig. 8. As seen in Fig. 6,the

stitch in each case has a double thread, or

each thread is doubled at the stitch, so as to make a strong and durable stitch, while between the stitches each thread is single, so that no waste of thread occurs. The stitches can of course be made at any desired suitable.

, sewed together, as in Fig. 5, or but one cloth with batting may be used, as in Fig. 7; or, if

desired, two cloths without any batting or other material may be sewed directly to one another. If desired, one cloth withoutbatting or other addition may be ornamented by stitches, so as to assume the appearance of Fig. 6 or Fig. 8, whereby asingle cloth, such as a light bed-cover, may be given an ornamental or quilt-like appearance.

By having the arms Z of the shuttle-carriers m all mounted 011 a common shaft D, Fig.9, the arms of the two shuttle-sets will have the same swing or move through like arcs. The mechanism can thus be more easily adjusted than if said sets of arms 1 swung on diiferent shafts or turning-points. An easy way of arranging the two sets of arms Zis to fix one set of arms to the shaft D and to leave the other set free to turn about said shaft. Each arm Z of. the loose set is provided with an arm :20, said arm at being connected to a rod or bar y, to which is fixed one of the arms 70. The other arm is is fixed to the shaft D, and as said last-named arm oscillates the shaft D the arms Z fixed to said shaft will oscillate therewith, and as the other arm 7; oscillates the rod y, the arms Z, sitting loose on the shaft D, will be oscillated. 'Thus two sets of armsl are accommodated on one shaft D, thereby cheapening and simplifying the construction and operation of the machine.

In place of two shafts B for the arms 0, Fig. 1, of the needle-carrier b, but one bar B, Fig. 10, can be employed. The arms 0 of one set of needle-bars can be fixed to the shaft B, and the other set of arms b can be loose on said shaft. The shaft B has an arm d connected to the rod 6, and as the rod 6 oscillates the arm (Z and shaft 13 the fixed arms 0 are oscillated. The loose arms 0 each have an arm d connected to a rod .2, having an arm A connected to the rod 6, and as the rod 6 oscillates the arm A and rode the loose arms 0 are oscillated. The arms 0 can thus be made to swing about a common turning-point.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The combination, with stitch-forming mechanism, of two presser-plates, each movable in a vertical plane toward and from the other for clamping the material, means for simultaneously moving the presser-plates away from each other and also toward each other, and an intermittent feed for feeding the material between the two presser-plates, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with stitch-forming mechanism, of two presser-plates, each movable toward and from the other for clamping the material, means for simultaneously moving the presser-plates away from each other and also toward each other, intermittentlyrotating feed-rollers for feeding one portion of the work between the presser-plates, and an intermittently-moving endless apron for carrying the other portion of the work toward the feed-rollers, substantially as described.

3. The combination, in a quilting or sewing machine, of two independent gangs of needles, one gang moving to the work while the other gang stands stationary, with means, substantially as described, for alternately actuating the two gangs, substantially as described, at uniform intervals, two independmounted directly on the shaft of the mutilated gear, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with stitch-forming mechanism comprising two independent gangs of needles and shuttles for each gang, of a set of swinging actuating-arms for each gang of needles, a shaft common to both sets of swinging arms and constituting a center on which the arms turn, a set of driver-arms for each set of shuttles, a shaft common to both sets of driver-arms and constituting a center on which they turn, and means for swinging the needle-actuating and the shut-- tle-driver arms, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with stitch-forming mechanismcomprisingtwo independent gangs 7 of needles and a set of shuttles for each gang, of a set of swinging actuating-arms for each gang of needles, a shaft on which the sets of actuating-arms are respectively loosely and rigidly mounted, a set of shuttle-driver arms for each set of shuttles, a shaft on which the sets of driver-arms are respectively loosely and rigidly mounted, and means for swinging the needle-actuating and the shuttledriver arms, substantially as described.

7. The combination, in a quilting or sewing machine, of stitch-forming mechanism, a presser-plate provided with edge recesses to allow the needles to pass through the bight of material turned round the said plate, means for actuating the presser-plate, and feed-rollers E F, operating to carry the material first toward the needles, then round the recessed edge of the plate, and then away from the needles, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

DAVID I-I. COLES. W itnesses:

WM. 0. HAUFF, E. F. KASTENHUBER.

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